Method for reducing the moisture content of crops



United States Patent I snenssz METHOD FOR REDUCING THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF CROPS Frank J. Sowa, 305 E. 46th St., Cranford, NJ. No Drawing. Filed July 28, 1954, Ser. No. 446,423 2 Claims. (ill. 71--2.7)

This invention relates to methods and means for removing moisture from crops for the purpose of aiding in the maturing, cur-ing, harvesting, or storing of the crops treated. The invention is directed particularly to methods wherein chemical compositions are applied to crops or vegetation for the purpose of reducing the moisture content thereof, or hastening the removal of moisture.

Hay and other crops or vegetation are generally cured or allowed to mature or ripen in the field under the action of the sun and wind. However, weather conditions influence the maturing and removal of moisture from hay to such an extent that it is impossible to schedule mowing, harvesting or bailing operations. In humid sectors of the United States where rainfall is frequent it is always a problem to cure hay in the field. The addition of a chemical to speed the rate of curing enhances the solution of the problem. Uniform ripening of legumes and cereal crops such as alfalfa, birds-foot trefoil, clover species, soybeans and field beans, rice, Wheat, corn and others is enhanced by preliminary drying of the leaves previous to harvest. If the weather is hot and dry the hay or crops may mature early, whereas a prolonged wet, humid period may cause considerable delay in the harvesting of the crop. Therefore, it frequently becomes necessary to harvest the crop at times when the weather is unfavorable or the farmer is engaged in other important tasks.

Many problems are also encountered due to the mildewing of hay or crops after they have been harvested particularly when the crops are harvested while in; a green state or, in the event they should be damp due to the rain or dew. If hay should mildew it not only becomes less fit for use by cattle but also presents a serious fire hazard due to the heat generated upon the growth Patented Sept. 26, 1961 F i e,

These and other objects and features of the present use in treating other crops or vegetation whenever it is and oxidation of mildew and the decomposition of the crop.

It has further been found that in many cases the nutrient value of some crops is substantially higher when it is harvested at earlier growth stages in comparison to more mature stages. I

It has now been discovered that hay and other crops can be treated with compositions which promote the curing for maturing of the hay while it is standing or after it has been mowed. This is preferably accomplished by spraying onto the hay crops or other products to be harvested, or at the time of harvest, a composition containing an aqueous solution, or suspension of a branched chain aliphatic acid or an ester, amide, or alkaline salt thereof.

One of the objects of the persent invention is to promote the drying of crops for the purpose of facilitating the maturing, curing, harvesting, or storing thereof.

Another object of the invention is to promote drying or maturing of crops while standing in a field.

, A further object of the invention is to provide methods whereby hay crops and other vegetation may be treated so as to reduce. the moisture content thereof.

A specific object of. the present invention is to provide methods wherein branched chain aliphatic acids and their esters, amides, or ammonium, amine alkaline salts are applied to crops in a manner to promote drying and/or curing of the crops and facilitate in the maturing, harvesting, or storing thereof.

desired to reduce the moisture content thereof. Furthermore, it should be understood that the present invention is adapted for use in the treatment of hay or crops standing in a field, and also may be employed in treating cut or harvested hay to facilitate curing and to prevent or reduce the growth of mildew and rotting or decomposition of the products. The present invention has been found to be useful in the treatment of perennials such as timothy and alfalfa and biennials, sweet clover, red clover and alsine. It may also be employed in the treatment of other crops to improve the properties of grain from rye, rice, oats, or wheat, or to control the moisture content of corn, ensilage, and the like.

In treating any crops of vegetation, whether standing in the field or cut or harvested, an aqueous solution or suspension of a branched chain aliphatic acid, or an ester, amide, ammonium, amine, or alkaline salt of such acid is applied to the crops preferably by spraying in a controlled manner depending upon the type of the crop being treated and its condition. \Instead of using the acid, ester or salt, it is possible to use the polyalkylene oxide condensation products of the branched chain aliphatic acids. In the preferred practice of the invention for treating standing hay in a field, or at the time of cutting, an aqueous solution or dispersion of the active agents is sprayed onto the hay a few hours or a day or so before the hay is to be harvested or at cutting time. The purpose of this practice is to facilitate the curing time of hay and thus reduce the hazards of unfavorable weather. A further purpose is to even further reduce the curing time and hazards such as can be obtained by mechanical means such as hay crushing.

The active ingredients of the composition employed in the practice of the present invention consist of or include branched chain monocarboxylic acids together with the esters, polyalkylene oxide condensation products,

' amides and ammonium, amine or alkaline salts thereof.

It has been found that the aliphatic acids which contain branched chains are generally more effective than are the:

' 'ticularly useful in the practice of the present invention.

In addition'to the acids themselves, substantially any of the esters of the above acids may be used such as the methyl, ethyl, butyl, pentyl, octyl, myristyl and lauryl esters. Hydroxy esters further may be used as exemplified by the polyalkalene oxide condensation products with the acids indicated above. Further, the amides can be used as exemplified by N,N, di-(Z-hydroxyethyl) hexanoa'mide.

Alkaline salts of the acids indicated above may also be employed and the term alkaline salts is intended to include and consist of the sodium, potassium, ammonium, and amine salts of the acids. Typical of such alkaline salts are ammonium 2-ethylhexanoate, dimethylammonium Z-ethylhexanoate, triethanolammonium Z-ethylhexanoate, laurylammoniurn Z-ethylhexanoate.

In most cases, it is desirable to use a wetting agent in combination with the active ingredients, such as those cited above. For this purpose, either ionic or non-ionic wetting agents may be employed, such as alkyl sodium sulfosuccinate, alkyl aryl sulfonates, fatty acid sulfonates,

and alkyl phenol ethylene oxide condensation products.

The amount and concentration of the active agent employed will vary considerably depending upon the type pecially eflective. If desired, two or more active agents may be employed in combination and the crops may be given two or more successive sprayings with the selected compositions if desired. In any event, the particular acand condition of the crop being treated as well as the 5 tive agents used may be varied depending upon the charcomposition of the active agents used. In general, the acter of the hay or crops being treated. concentration of the aqueous solution and dispersions ein- The active agent may be supplied to the user in the ployed may vary from about 0.1 to 10.0 pounds per galform of a dry powder or liquid form as a concentrate Inn of water used although larger amounts may be used for dilution prior to application. Typical of the composiwhen desired. Other or additional solvents such as 211- tions, which can be supplied in this form are the followcohol also may be used in producing solutions or dising: persions. The volume of liquid and the amount of active G agent applied per acre will depend not only upon the Laurylamrnonium 2-ethylhexanoate 220 type and condition of the crop being treated and th Isopropyl alcohol 220 agent employed, but further depends upon the type Of Z-ethylhexanoic acid 220 spraying equipment used. Low volume Sprayers had Igepal 300 110 been developed which are capable of applying onle to Isopropyl alcohol 110 fifty gallons or so of liquid er acre, whereas high vo time: sprayers may apply as mucti as from fiftyto four hundred t ol foregomg mlxtufes can be d1s1ved or P gallons per acre 7 2o pen ed in water to the desiredconcentration depending The amount of the active agent applied is generally igpon tllle character of the spraying equipment which w1ll from about /2 to 100 pounds per acre dependingas in- :vhen Spraymg on a or other crops of vege' dicated upon the character of the crop beingtreatedand ta'lpn t 3 {amount of from /2 Pound to 100 Pounds of the active agent used. Typical quantities when using 2- acme mgredlent P h cfops are found to h ethylhexanoic acid will vary from /2 to '50 pounds per 5 markedly reduced m momma i i gmergny m acre depending upon the type of carrier used in the sprayangounts of from 5 to 5 or i h wlthm a Penod mg equipment and the density, and type of the a ew hours. The drying effect is increased with a rise crop. in temperature and accordingly, the amount of compos1- In order to illustrate typical practice in accordance with reqmred for use on a 1.1m: Summer day W111 be less the present invention, the following example is cited In than a needed when applied cold damp A each case the hay treated was alfalfa, as well as mixed fzonveniem apphcanon. Is to spfay the hay legumes, approximately 12 inches tall and the tests were just pnor to or qurmg the harvestmg Operation appliad to strips inches Wide 3 feet long; To In the alternative, hay which has been cut and crushed each strip there was applied 400 cc. of composition pro by mechanical the rerfloval molsmre may be duced by dissolving 220 parts of.2 -ethylhexanoic acid, hastened by th?.chenncals damned mjlhls P 100 parts of a Wetting agent and 110 par-$015 isopmpyl The compositions of the present 1nventton are also alcohol in Water the rate Of applica'tion beingeq'lfivalent useful for desiccation and/or defoliation of the leaves to 50-pounds of active ingTedient per acre p 0t soybeans, castorbeans, cotton, small-seeded legumes tion to the hay was made at 11:00 m h ij v such as alfalfa, red clover, birds-foot trefoil, white clover mples Were ar ested from each strip at 12:00 noon, 40 and others. Also for the desiccation of the leaves of 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 pm. The weights of all cereal grains (such as rice, wheat, etc.) with subsequent alfalfa samples were taken immediately after cutting and uniform drying and maturing of the grain directly in the the samples were placed in a drier to determine the moisfield. ture content thereof. The results obtainedare' indicated While it is generally desirable to apply the compositions in the following table: of the present invention in the form of aqueous solu- Untreated Treated Dlfi'sr- 611GB, Dry Temp., Time .Dry Dry Material Green Dry Material Green Dry Material Gain by Content, Content, Treating percent percent percent 61 12:00 878 212 24.1v e53 116. 26.0 1.9 63 1 p.m. 968 235 24:2 639 174 27.2 3.0 as 2pm. 792 1% 24:3 747, 216 28.9 4.6 3p.m. 106 174 24.6 752 2% 29.7 5.1

There was little difierence in color of the dry samples tions, they can, where permissible, be dissolved in organic but over 5% of drying was effected in 5 hours. The day 60 solvents such as alcohol or hydrocarbon solvents or in being relatively cool, the rate of drying was retarded the form of aqueous emulsions wherein the active agent and from experience it can be reasonably estimated that is dissolved in a hydrocarbon solvent. the extent of drying which would result from the same The foregoing methods of employing the present intreatment on a hot summer day at temperaturesapproachvention and the compositions cited and recommended for ing 90 F. the composition described would produce 65 use are capable of many variations and have been renearly 20% drying of the hay treated. ferred to for purposes of illustration. However, com- In addition to the product as indicated in the above positions and methods of using the same can be altered table, laurylammonium Z-ethylhexanoate was very effecconsiderably and in view thereof, it should be understood tive among the alkaline salts of the branched chain alithat the particular examples cited are intended for purphatic acids. The branched chain aliphatic acids, such as poses of illustration and are not intended to limit the 2-ethylhexanoic acid, not only caused moisture removal of the leaves but also showed activity in moisture removal from the stems of the hay treated inaccordance with the present invention. Other branch chain acids and their esters and alkaline salts also appear to be esscope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. The method of treating crops preparatory to harvesting thereof which comprises the step of spraying onto the standing crops an aqueous solution containing from about 0.1 to 10 pounds per gallon of 2-ethylhexanoic References Cited in the file of this patent acid together with a wetting agent, said solution being UNITED STATES PATENTS sprayed onto the crops at the rate of approximately /2 ,497;362 Dhe June 10, 1924 to 100 pounds of the active ingredient per acre. 2,393,035 Bollsquelt I311 15, 19416 2. The method of reducing the moisture content of 5 2396912 Jones et a1 1946 crops comprising the steps of spraying onto the crops gig? 'g "335' an effective amount of an aqueous medium containing an 2:626:862 Zimmerman Jan. 1953 active agent selected from the group consisting of Z-ethyl- 2,635,816 Stewart APL 28, 1953 hexanoic acid and the esters, amides and alkaline, salts 10 2,639,983 V ld t May 2 1953 thereof, together with a wetting agent. 7 2,649,364 Raynor et a1 Aug. 18, 1953 

1. THE METHOD OF TREATING CROPS PREPARATORY TO HARVESTING THEREOF WHICH COMPRISES THE STEP OF SPRAYING ONTO THE STANDING CROPS AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 0.1 TO 10 POUNDS PER GALLON OF 2-ETHYLEHEXANOIC ACID TOGETHER WITH A WETTING AGENT, SAID SOLUTION BEING SPRAYED ONTO THE CROPS AT THE RATE OF APPROCIMATELY 1/2 TO 100 POUNDS OF THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT PER ACRE. 